Valve-controlling apparatus



7 Jan. 13, 1931.1 A. H. .TINNERMAN I I 8 VALVE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 5. 19 29 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuwntoz 30 Jan.'l3, 1931. A.H.T|NNERMAN 1,188,753

VALVE CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1 929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 19, while Patented Jan. 13, 193E UNITED srA 's;

. Brazen. TINNERMAN, or CLEVELAND, 01:10

VALVE-CONTROLLING Armmros Application filed July 5, 1929. Serial No. 376,045.

This invention relates to valve controlling ap aratus for gas stoves, and more particu- 'lar y to a controlling apparatus for use in a stove wherein the gas valves are located in a 6 compact cluster within the stove and wherein the control must be located at the front of the stove at a point remote from the valves. This type of valve and burner arrangement (is illustrated and described in detail in. my

copending applications Serial No. 345,627 filed March 9, 1929 and Serial No. 360,971

. filed May 6, 1929. Briefly, the mechanism comprises a burner box, burners disposed at spaced points within the box, a gas and air distributor cent-rally located within the box, and gas valves associated with the distributor for controlling the flow of gas to the various burners.

A general object of this invention is to 90 provide a single controlling member for a plurality'of valves. Another object is the provision of a compact valvecontrolling apparatus in which various unsightly parts of the ordinary stove are concealed or eliminated, and which may be easily constructed.

A further object is to provide a convenient valve control which cannot be easily operated by children. I

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a] plan view of a gas range embodying. my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing my controlling apparatus as applied to the range; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the lines'4-'4 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional details on an enlarged scale of arts shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is an end viewof the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

Referring more particularlyto Fig.1 of

the drawings, my invention is shown in cOnnection with av usual type of gas range. 10 having a burner box 11, and an oven box 12. Burners 13 maybe arranged in the usual manner within the burner box and the oven and may be. supplied with gas through hollow shanks 14. The shanks are connected to a centrally locatedgas distributor 16, which may be sup lied withgas by the supply pipe e air necessary for proper combustion may be supplied through the conduit, 20, which is shown as surrounding the supply pipe. The flow of gas to the respective burners is controlled by valves 21 (see Fig. 4) which may be built into the body of the distributor. These valves may include tapered valve plugs 22 to which bevelled gears 23 are attached. Other bevelled gears 24 mounted on shafts 25 engage the gears 23. The shafts 25 extend to the front of the stove and may be supported by suitable bearings in the distributor 16, and at the front of the stove.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the outer ends of the shafts 25 are grouped together, preferably at spaced points on the circumference of a circle, and mechanism is provided for selectively turning the shafts and thus operating the valves. This mechanism may comprise a'n operating handle 28 which is rigidly connected to the shaft' 29. A key 30 is associated with the end of the handle shaft and is adapted to selectively engage the slots 31 in the ends of the respective shafts. The shaft 29 may be mounted in suitable bearings in a selector 33. To hold the key normally out of engagement with the slots and away from the front of the stove, -I may provide a coil spring 34 surrounding the shaft 29. The spring may be under compression and at one end may engage the, sleeve 38 of the-handle and at the other end the shoulder 39 which is formed in a recess in the selector 33. The handle shaft may be secured in a recess 27 of-the handle by a screw 40: which extends through. the walls ofthe sleeve 38 and into a tapped hole in the shaft. The end of the shaft adjacent the key may be provided with a cap 41 to hold the'handle andishaft in place against the action ofthe spring.

The selector may comprise a crank arm 42 terminating in a crank shaft 43 which may be niounted in an aperture on the front of the stove at the center of the circle on the circumference of which the ends of the shafts 25 are located. The crank shaft may be held in place by a shoulder 44 which engages a disk 46 on the front of the stove, and by a washer 47 and lock nuts 48 and 49 which may be screwed onto a threaded end portion of the crank shaft on the inside of the stove. If desired, a I spring clip 50 may be secured to the inside of the front of the stove by bolts- 51 and may engage the edges of the hexagonal nut 48 and thus aid in indexing the selector.

The disk 46 may be secured to the front of the stove by any convenient means such as screws. 45 and may bear suitable notations ately be disengaged and the handle may be swung to another position to operate another valve. Because of the indexing device the handle may easily be located in the roper position at each operating point a d the valves may be operated without loss of time. As the handle must be swung into position, and then pushed inwardly, there is very little chance of the'valves being opened by a child who may-be playing near the stove.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and compact valve controlling apparatus in which a single handle disposed at a point remotefrom the valves may be used to control a plurality of valves. This presents a neat and pleasing appearance anda novel departure from the standard practice of arranging the valves in a row along the front of the burner box. A further important advantage which is gained by my inventlon is the fact that children cannot readily operate the valve key to turn on the gas. I claim:

each burner, said valves being disposed entlrely within the stoveyvalve operat1ng mem- 'bers leading from each of said valves to the .ibers, said key being adapted to coact with front of the stove, and a selector mounted on the stove and adapted to be moved with reference thereto toengage the respective members; said selector having a key associated therewith for engaging t e respective memthe respective members to actuate the assoelated valve while in engagement with the members.

,2. In a gas stove, the combination with a I plurality of burners, valves therefor, a singlemember rotatably mounted adjacent one edge of thestove, a selector mounted on one edge of the stove and adapted to occupy dilferent carriedby the selector and engagea of burners therefor, valves associated with some of the burners, valve operating members extending from the valves to the front of-the stove, the ends ofsaid members being ar-- the valves.

en agement with the respective members and to e operated with reference ,to the-arm for actuating the associated member and valves.

5. In combination, a gas stove, a plurality of burners therein, a valve associated with tendingfrom each valve to the edge of the stove, the ends of the members terminating in a circle at the front edge ofv the stove, a selector arm rotatably mounted at the center of said circle, a key associated with the arm,

contact with the ends of said member, said means permitting the key to be moved into engagement with the respective members and to be operated with reference to the arm for actuating the associated member and valves, and indexin means associated with the selector where y engagement of the key and the members is facilitated. 1. In combination, a gas stove, a plurality of burners therein, a valve associated with 6. The combination of a gas stove having a plurality of burners, valves within the stove and associated with each burner, means operatively connected with each of the valves and'extending to the outsi selector supported on the outside of the stove adjacent said means, and an operating handle said means, whereby the handle may control the valves. a

7. The combination of a' gas stove having a plurality of burners, valves for each burner disposed within the stove, shafts operatively connectedto each valve and terminating outside of the stove, a selector mounted on the stove adjacent the ends of the shafts, a handle carried by the selector and selectively engageable with the ends of the shafts, and indexing means associated with the selector whereby engagement of the handle and the shafts is facilitated. 1

8. The combination of a gas stove having a plurality of burners, a gas'distributor within the stove, valves for each burner within the of the stove, a

each burner, a valve operating member ex- .means for normally keeping the key out of le with weaves stove, a selector remote from the valves,-an operating handle supported. on the selector and means engageable with the handle and operatively connected to the valves whereby each valve ma be controlled by the handle.

9. The com ination of a gas stove havinga plurality of burners, valves for each burner disposed within the stove, shafts operatively 10. connected to each valve and terminating outside of the stove, a selector mounted on the stove adjacent the ends of the shafts and a handle carried by the selector and, selectively engageable with the ends of the shafts.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature. l

. ALBERT H. TINNERMAN. 

